Frequency of headache among the employees of a rubber company in the state of São Paulo, Brazil / Frequência de cefaleia em trabalhadores de uma empresa de borracha no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Primary headaches may be responsible for absenteeism and a fall in the yield and productivity of work. The aim of this study was to establish the presence and frequency of primary headache among employees of a rubber shoe sole company, and its link to absenteism. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study carried out with help from the staff of the medical and social department of a rubber factory located in the municipality of Franca, São Paulo. METHOD: A questionnaire on headache characteristics was distributed to all employees. The returned and completed questionnaires were divided into two groups: with and without reports of headache. The headaches were classified into four main groups: migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), cluster headache and others. In terms of the reported frequency, headaches were also classified as chronic daily headache (CDH). RESULTS: The number of valid questionnaires was 392 (59 percent); 80.9 percent were from male and 19.1 percent from female employees. Headaches were reported by 120 subjects (30.6 percent), with 17.4 percent belonging to the migraine group and 8.9 percent to the TTH group. Migraine was more frequent (p < 0.001) among all participants and also among the women (p < 0.05). TTH was more frequent among the men (p < 0.05). CDH was identified in 14 individuals (3.6 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Headache was a common problem among the employees of this company and was a cause of absenteeism for 8.7 percent of the respondents to the questionnaire.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Cefaleias primárias podem ser causa de absenteísmo, e de queda no rendimento e na produtividade do trabalho. O objetivo do estudo foi estabelecer a presença e frequência de cefaleia primária em funcionários de uma empresa de solados de borracha,e sua relação com absenteísmo. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal realizado com a ajuda do pessoal do departamento médico e social de uma empresa localizada no município de Franca, São Paulo. MÉTODO: Um questionário sobre as características da cefaleia foi distribuído a todos os funcionários. Os questionários devolvidos e preenchidos foram divididos em dois grupos: com e sem relato de cefaleia. As cefaleias foram classificadas em quatro grupos principais: migrânea, cefaleia do tipo tensional (CTT), cefaleia em salvas e outras cefaleias. Através da frequência da cefaleia, foi possível a classificação em cefaleia crônica diária (CCD). RESULTADOS: O número de questionários válidos foi de 392 (59 por cento), 80,9 por cento questionários eram de funcionários do gênero masculino, e 19,1 por cento, do gênero feminino. Cento e vinte (30,6 por cento) dos funcionários relataram apresentar cefaleia, sendo que 17,4 por cento pertenceram ao grupo migrânea e 8,93 por cento ao grupo CTT. O diagnóstico de migrânea foi o mais frequente (p < 0,001) dentre todos, e também entre as mulheres (p < 0,05). O diagnóstico de CTT foi mais frequente entre os homens (p < 0,05). CCD foi identificada em 14 indivíduos (3,6 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: Cefaleia é um problema frequente entre os funcionários da empresa participante da pesquisa sendo a causa de absentismo em 8,7 por cento dos que responderam o questionário.

Cefaléias primárias: abordagem diagnóstica por médicos não-neurologistas / Primary headaches: a diagnostic approach by non-neurologist doctors

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o conhecimento do diagnóstico e conduta de médicos não-neurologistas quanto às cefaléias primárias. MÉTODO: 91 médicos foram solicitados a diagnosticar e estabelecer condutas em três histórias de pacientes com características clínicas de migrânea sem aura (MSA), cefaléia do tipo tensional crônica (CTTC) e migrânea com aura (MCA), elaboradas de acordo com a Classificação Internacional das Cefaléias - 2ª Edição (CIC-II). RESULTADOS: MSA: dois profissionais (2,2 por cento) fizeram o diagnóstico correto, 54 (59,3 por cento) diagnosticaram migrânea sem especificar o subtipo. CTTC: 15 médicos (16,5 por cento) diagnosticaram cefaléia de tensão sem especificar o subtipo. MCA: 26 (28,6 por cento) fizeram o diagnóstico de migrânea e apenas um médico (1,1 por cento) fez o diagnóstico correto do subtipo. Dezesseis médicos (17,6 por cento) afirmaram conhecer a CIC-II. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos médicos não-neurologistas desconhece os critérios utilizados para diagnóstico e classificação das formas mais freqüentes de cefaléias primárias.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge of diagnostic and posture of non-neurologist doctors concerning primary headaches. METHOD: 91 doctors were asked to diagnose and establish procedures on three patient histories presenting clinic characteristics of migraine without aura (MA), chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and migraine with aura (MO), according to the International Classification of Headaches - 2nd Edition (CIC-II). RESULTS: MSA: Two professionals (2.2 percent) were accurate in their diagnostic, 54 (59.3 percent) said it was migraine but did not specify the subtype. CTTC: 15 doctors (16.5 percent) diagnosed tension-type headache but did not specify the subtype. MCA: 26 (28.6 percent) said it was migraine, and only one doctor (1.1 percent) was right about the subtype. Sixteen doctors (17.6 percent) said to be aware of CIC-II. CONCLUSION: Most of non-neurologist doctors do not know the diagnostic criteria used to diagnose and to classify the most frequent forms of primary headaches.

375 childhood primary headache: clinical features, the agreement between clinical diagnosis and diagnoses using the international classification of headache disorders in Thai children.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of patients with headache and agreement between clinical diagnoses and ICHD II criteria diagnosis in primary headaches in Thai children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients with headache who, over a 4-year period, consulted the neurological clinic, were interviewed by questionnaire, examined, diagnosed, treated, and followed up by pediatric neurologists. The result from the questionnaire was used to define the type of headache according to the ICHD II criteria. The clinical features were analyzed and clinical diagnosis was compared with diagnoses using the International Classification of Headache disorders. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-five primary headache patients were defined by ICHD II criteria. One hundred twenty eight (35.2%) were migraine, 47 (12.5%) were tension-type, 123 (33.3%) were probable migraine, 31 (8.3%) were probable tension-type, and 40 (10.7%) cannot be classified because the symptoms were not compatible with diagnosed criteria. Using clinical diagnosis as the standard, the sensitivity of the ICHD-based definition of migraine without aura and probable migraine was 89.96% whereas the specific was 65.09%. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the International Classification of Headache disorders-based definition of infrequent episodic tension-type and probable infrequent episodic tension-type was 56.34% whereas the specific was 87.50%. CONCLUSION: The present study shows the increase of sensitivity but decrease of the specificity of ICHD II criteria in diagnosed pediatric migraine headache. However, the duration of attack and quality of headache are still the limitation of diagnosis for pediatric headache. Therefore, the diagnosis criteria in pediatric headache should be developed distinctly from adults.

Optimising primary headache management.

Despite the fact that headache is one of the commonest of medical complaints seen in practice, most headache patients continue to be suboptimally managed. Probably because recent advances in the field of headache are written about more in specialty journals, many physicians even today feel that nothing much can be done for their headache patients! And, since more than 90% of headaches seen in practice are primary headaches, we need to realize that there is enough evidence now to show that primary headaches are a potentially treatable biological problem. It is therefore important that we do not err in the diagnosis and choice of the right drug options. This article discusses some of the reasons for suboptimal management of primary headaches and suggests measures to avoid these 'Pitfalls'. Secondary headaches where there is an underlying cause identifiable on examination or investigation are outside the scope of this review.